bloodrayne
01-04-2007, 10:17 AM
Details Emerge In Deadly Domestic Dispute
Scottsdale, Arizona - Police released chilling details of a violent family squabble in an upscale gated north Scottsdale community that left a couple dead and two teens hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds.
The main suspect in the shootings is the teens' 55-year-old stepfather, who fatally shot his wife in the couple's bedroom before attempting to kill the teens Wednesday night at a home in the 8300 block of East Nightingale Star Drive late Wednesday, police said.
The man's name, and the names of his 44-year-old wife and two stepchildren, were not released Thursday because detectives are still trying to locate the teens' biological father. advertisement
Most of the police account of the incident has come from one of the victims - an 18-year-old stepson who told police that he tried to protect his 16-year-old sister after their stepfather broke into the girl's bedroom with a handgun.
The 18-year-old survived the altercation after he was shot in the torso while his sister suffered life-threatening injuries after she was shot multiple times. Both victims were recovering Thursday at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn.
Two guns and two knives were recovered at the home southwest of Cave Creek and Pima roads, grim reminders that domestic violence can happen anywhere in the Valley, Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said.
"This just happened in a matter of minutes," he said. "We're trying to nail down exactly what happened inside the home . . . talking to neighbors, friends and co-workers to find out more about the family."
Scottsdale investigators believe the following sequence of events happened Wednesday night around 8:20 p.m., though details were still being pieced together Thursday:
• The stepfather fatally shot his wife in their bedroom and then went to the 18-year-old stepson'sroom to shoot him.
• Seeing his stepfatherarmed, the 18-year-old ran into his sister's bedroom, shutting the door. The teens called 911 from there.
• The stepfather broke into the room and a struggle ensued. One knife was believed to be used. The 18-year-old fled across the street to a neighbor's house after being shot at least once in the torso. The girl was critically wounded after several gunshot wounds.
• After alerting neighbors to call the police, the 18-year-old returned to the house and was confronted by his stepfather in the kitchen. Another struggle ensued in which the stepfather was stabbed more than once with a kitchen knife.
Police were still investigating how the stepfather died. It was unclear if he only suffered stab wounds, or if he was shot.
Staff at two DC Ranch businesses said Thursday they were shocked to learn that their employee, 18-year-old Richard Le, was hospitalized. Police would not confirm if Le was one of the victims.
Le worked at the deli inside the Safeway at DC Ranch, near Thompson Peak and Pima roads, according to supermarket staff. He also worked at nearby Eddie V's restaurant, according to one manager. Safeway staff, who visited him in the hospital, and deli regulars were collecting money Thursday to help Le cover funeral expenses.
The family's home, valued at more than $1 million, was purchased in June by a Catherine Howe, according to the Maricopa County Assessor. Police also would not confirm if Howe was one of the victims.
Scottsdale, Arizona - Police released chilling details of a violent family squabble in an upscale gated north Scottsdale community that left a couple dead and two teens hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds.
The main suspect in the shootings is the teens' 55-year-old stepfather, who fatally shot his wife in the couple's bedroom before attempting to kill the teens Wednesday night at a home in the 8300 block of East Nightingale Star Drive late Wednesday, police said.
The man's name, and the names of his 44-year-old wife and two stepchildren, were not released Thursday because detectives are still trying to locate the teens' biological father. advertisement
Most of the police account of the incident has come from one of the victims - an 18-year-old stepson who told police that he tried to protect his 16-year-old sister after their stepfather broke into the girl's bedroom with a handgun.
The 18-year-old survived the altercation after he was shot in the torso while his sister suffered life-threatening injuries after she was shot multiple times. Both victims were recovering Thursday at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn.
Two guns and two knives were recovered at the home southwest of Cave Creek and Pima roads, grim reminders that domestic violence can happen anywhere in the Valley, Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said.
"This just happened in a matter of minutes," he said. "We're trying to nail down exactly what happened inside the home . . . talking to neighbors, friends and co-workers to find out more about the family."
Scottsdale investigators believe the following sequence of events happened Wednesday night around 8:20 p.m., though details were still being pieced together Thursday:
• The stepfather fatally shot his wife in their bedroom and then went to the 18-year-old stepson'sroom to shoot him.
• Seeing his stepfatherarmed, the 18-year-old ran into his sister's bedroom, shutting the door. The teens called 911 from there.
• The stepfather broke into the room and a struggle ensued. One knife was believed to be used. The 18-year-old fled across the street to a neighbor's house after being shot at least once in the torso. The girl was critically wounded after several gunshot wounds.
• After alerting neighbors to call the police, the 18-year-old returned to the house and was confronted by his stepfather in the kitchen. Another struggle ensued in which the stepfather was stabbed more than once with a kitchen knife.
Police were still investigating how the stepfather died. It was unclear if he only suffered stab wounds, or if he was shot.
Staff at two DC Ranch businesses said Thursday they were shocked to learn that their employee, 18-year-old Richard Le, was hospitalized. Police would not confirm if Le was one of the victims.
Le worked at the deli inside the Safeway at DC Ranch, near Thompson Peak and Pima roads, according to supermarket staff. He also worked at nearby Eddie V's restaurant, according to one manager. Safeway staff, who visited him in the hospital, and deli regulars were collecting money Thursday to help Le cover funeral expenses.
The family's home, valued at more than $1 million, was purchased in June by a Catherine Howe, according to the Maricopa County Assessor. Police also would not confirm if Howe was one of the victims.